Wire bound box lidding machine



Oct. 9, 1956 J. R. RICHARDS 2,765,730

WIRE BOUND BOX momma MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WEE E1/9 v INVENTOR JOHN R.RICHARD$ ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1956 'J. R. RICHARDSWIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 R oT N E V m JOHN R.RICHARDS AfiM TIE 3' ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1956 J. R.RICHARDS WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26,.1951

aw m-H m WEP INVENTOR JOHN R. men/mos ATTORNEY @ci, 9, 3%6 J. R.RICHARDS 2,

WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1951 S Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR JOHN R. RICHARDS ATTORNEY 0ct. 9, 1956 J. R. RICHARDS 2,

WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDINGYMACHINE Filed Dec. 26,1951 5 Sheets -Sheet 5INVENTOR JOHN R. RICHARDS ATTORNEY United States Patent ice WIRE BOUNDBOX LIDDING MACHINE John R. Richards, Riverside, Califl, assignor toFood Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif, a corporationof Delaware Application December 26-, 1951, Serial No. 263,307

17 Claims. (Cl. 100-56) This invention relates to box lidding machinesand pertains more particularly to an improved mechanism for closing andfastening the lids of wire bound boxes.

Such boxes are constructed principally of thin flexible boards, and havetheir lids hingedly attached thereto by encircling wires which terminatein loops, one of which projects from a forward edge of the lid, and theother from an upper edge of the front side of the box. When such boxesare used for the packing and shipping of fruit and produce, they usuallyare overfilled, so that in closing the lid of the box, the thin flexibleboards of which they are constructed are arched or crowned, so that thistype of packing has become known in the industry as crown packing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved box liddingmechanism for use in the crown packing of wire bound boxes.

Another object is to provide improved means for straightening, aligningand interengaging, and then bending to interlocked position, theterminal wire loops on the front side and lid, respectively, of a wirebound box.

A further object is to provide improved lid positioning and securingmeans for a wire bound box lidding machine.

Another object is to provide improved lid aligning means for a wirebound box lidder, which means also retain the produce within theconfines of the box during a lid closing operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the presentinvention, portions thereof being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the machineshown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary side elevational views showing selectedportions of Fig. 1 in different stages of their operation from thatshown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views in the nature of enlargedfragmentary side elevations showing successive stages in the operativecycle of a lid positioning portion of the present invention.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged diagrammatic views in the nature ofenlarged fragmentary side elevations showing a wire loop straighteningportion of the invention in successive stages of its operation, Fig. 10showing additionally, in broken lines, the roller hammer in its finalposition after interlocking the interengaged wire loops.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a fragmentary sectiontaken along line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a further enlarged perspective view showing a wire loopstraightening assembly as it would appear when removed from the machine,a portion of the supporting shafts therefore also being shown.

In general, the principal structural and operative parts of theillustrated lidding machine are similar to those 2,765,730 Patented Oct.9, 1956 shown in the co-pending application of Ernest A. Verrinder,Serial No. 246,134, for Lidder for Wire Bound Boxes, filed Sept. 11,1951. Briefly, these principal parts comprise a stationary frame 20having a top frame structure 21 rigidly mounted thereon, a box elevatinghoist 22, and a pair of downwardly spring biased, lid closer supportmembers 23 mounted for vertical sliding movement on the frame 20.

A lid closing frame 24 is mounted for limited tilting movement between apair of slotted plates 25, carried by the vertically movable lid closersupport members 23. A pair of side frame members 26 of the lid closingframe 24 extend forwardly therefrom, and are notched at 27 on theirunder sides for a purpose which will be explained later herein. Thehoist 22 has a top frame portion 22a thereon, and two box end pressermembers 28 are pivotally mounted on the top frame portion to be swunginwardly by a pair of earns 29 into pressing engagement with the ends ofa box 36 upon elevation of the box by the hoist. The earns 29 foractuating the box end presser members 28 are welded one to the forwardedge of each of the slotted plates 25.

As in the machine of co-pending application, Serial No. 246,134,referred to previously herein, the lid closer support members 23 aremounted to slide on gib posts 31, a pair thereof being provided for eachsupport member. The support members 23 are maintained horizontal duringtheir vertical movements along the gib posts by pinions 32 meshed withracks 33. The pinions 32 are arranged in pairs, each pair thereof issecured to opposite ends of a shaft 34 journaled in a pair of brackets35 provided therefor on each lid closer support member 23. The racks 33are secured to the top frame structure 21.

Diagonally disposed coil springs 36 are mounted under compressionbetween the fixed top frame structure 21 and the slidable lid closersupport members 23 to bias the lid closer support members downwardduring a lid closing portion of the stroke of the hoist 22, but to allowsaid slidable members 23 to travel upwardly against the biasing force ofthe springs 36 during a subsequent loop-interlocking portion of thehoist stroke.

The hoist 22 may be of a well known hydraulic type with suitablecontrols (not shown), such as conventional manually operated valvemeans, or by automatic controls, such as those illustrated and describedin the copending application Ser. No. 246,134 referred to previouslyherein. The hoist 22 is adapted to be elevated to a desired height uponactuation of the control means so as to perform the lid closing and loopstraightening, aligning and interlocking operations in a manner to bedescribed herein, and then to be lowered again to its starting positionshown in Fig. 1 after the lidding has been completed.

Box supporting anvils 38 are mounted on the hoist top frame 22a tosupport, at its ends, the box 30 to be lidded. Guide flanges 39 aremounted along the outer sides of the anvils 38 to guide the box to acentered position thereon.

A box front supporting member is provided to support the front wall ofthe box against bulging during compression of its contents. This supportmember comprises a box front presser assembly 40 adapted to be swunginto pressing engagement with the front wall of a box during anoperative stroke of the hoist 22. One of a .pair of standards 41 issecured to extend upwardly from each side of the hoist top frame 22alaterally beyond the anvils 38. A pair of presser assembly support arms42 is pivotally mounted, one on the upper end of each of the standards41, and the box front presser assembly 40 is mounted on the free ends ofthe arms 42.

Downward swinging of the front presser assembly support arms 42 duringan upward stroke of the hoist 22 is accomplished by a pair of camfollower rollers 44 mounted, one on each of the presser assembly supportarms 42. Each of the cam follower rollers id is adapted to ride into alaterally extending notch 45 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) in a notched cam plate43 when the hoist 22 approaches its lowered position as shown in Fig. 1to swing the arms '42 and the front presser assembly 4%) upwardly. Thenotched cam plates 48 are secured to the slidable lid closer supportmembers 23 to extend downwardly therefrom.

Upon elevation of the hoist 22, the rollers are retained against upwardmovement by the upper edges of the notches 45 of the associated camplate 48 until the presser assembly 49 is pressed into engagement withthe front face of a box to be lidded. At this point, the rollers 44 rollrearwardly out of their notches and upwardly along the rear faces 4-9 ofthe cam plates 4?; as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The front presser assembly comprises a presser 'plate portion 5t? havinga box-like lower portion 51 (Figs.

1 and 2) of rectangular crosssectional shape. A plurality of fingers 52extend upwardly from the lower portion 51 to lie closely against thefront of the box and substantially midway between adjacent binding wires3% thereof when the presser assembly 40 is in its lowered position(Figs. 2, 3 and 4). These fingers are of a length to extend above thetop of a box to be lidded to prevent the overfilled contents of the boxfrom extending forwardly when the lid is closed. Tapered angularreinforcing ribs 53 (Figs. 2 and 3) are welded to extend forwardly fromthe outer face of each finger 52, the lower end of the ribs being weldedto the upper side of the box-like lower portion 51.

End plates 54 are welded to the ends of the presser plate portion andare secured by bolts 55 to the free ends of the presser plate supportarms i2. The end plates 54 are of generally trapezoidal shape (Figs. 1,3 and 4) and a loop straightener support shaft 57 is journalcd thereinto lie forwardly of the terminal loops Stib of the binding wires 3% onthe front wall of a box 36 when the arms 4-2 have been swung down tobring the presser plates 50 against the front wall of the box 30 asdescribed previously therein.

A plurality of loop straightening and aligning assemblies 60 are mountedon the shaft 57, and since these assemblies are all substantially alike,only the one on the left hand end of the shaft 57 will be described indetail. For the purpose of the present portion of the description, theassembly 6% will be assumed to be in its up-swung or loop straighteningposition as shown in Figs. 9 and 11.

The loop straightening and aligning assembly 69 (Figs. 9 to 12,inclusive) comprises a hub portion 61 secured by set screws 62 to theshaft 57. A pair of parallel support arms 63 are secured to extendradially from the hub 61. A head portion 63a is pivotally mounted on thefree ends of the arms 63 and comprises a central plate portion 64 havinga block 65 welded thereto and drilled to receive a pivot pin 67 whichalso is inserted in holes provided therefor in the arms 63. The upperand lower marginal portions 68 and 69 of the plate portion 64 are benttoward the arms 63, so as not to leave exposed edges which might catchon portions of the box or its binding wires during a lid closingoperation.

Oppositely symmetrical side wing portions iii and 71 are welded one toeach side of the central plate portion 64 to extend laterally therefrom.These wing portions are of a length to extend upwardly beyond thecentral plate portion 64. The upper and lower marginal portions 72 and73 of each wing portion are bent to correspond with those of the centralplate portion 64-. The upper inner corners 74 (Figs. 11 and 12) of theside wing portions and 71 are clipped diagonally to provide upwardlydiverging guide edges for guiding a lid loop sec of a binding wire 39ato centered position therebetween during the closing of the box lid.

When the straightener assemblies 60 are in engagement with a box 30, inthe position illustrated in Figs. 2, 9, 11 and 12, the upstanding wingportions 70 and 71 of each assembly 60 extend above the upper edge ofthe front wall of the box 30. Hence, the wings 70 and 71 constituteauxiliary box front support members cooperating with the upper portionsof the fingers 52 (Fig. 2) to form a retainer wall which preventsproduce from flowing over the front wall as the lid moves toward closingposition. Since the pivoting, closing action of the lid tends to movethe produce toward the front of the box, it is important that a wall beprovided for supporting the produce during the final closing movementsof the lid. In Fig. 9, the produce support members 70 and 71 are shownin the position in which the forward edge of the box lid passes close tothe support members 52, 70 and 71 to contact the produce disposedthereagainst and force it downwardly into the box.

The outer wing portion 71 (Figs. 11 and 12) of the loop straighteningassembly 60 on each end of the shaft 57 is cut as at 75, and the tabportion 76 formed thereby is bent toward the arms 63 for receiving theimpact of the notched, forwardly projecting portions 27 of the side bars26 of the lid closing frame 24 during the final portion of its lidclosing movement. This impact of the lid closing frame overcomes anyfrictional engagement between the loop straightening assemblies and thebox, and assists gravity in swinging the loop straightening assemblies68 downwardly clear of the box upon completion of a loop straighteningand aligning operation thereby.

A pointed loop straightening prong 77 is mounted centrally of thecentral plate portion 64 with its pointed end directed upwardly so as toenter and to straighten, by pulling it upwardly, a loop on the frontside of the box. Each prong 77 has a thickened base or mounting portion73 terminating at its upper end in a shoulder 78 from which a thinnerpointed portion 79 (Fig. 12) extends upwardly; and the base portion isaffixed to the central plate portion 64 midway between the side Wings 7%and 71. The base portion is sufficiently thick to provide clearancebetween the pointed portion 79 and the central plate portion 64 slightlygreater than the diameter of the binding wire 30a for the boxes to belidded. This avoids the possibility of the wire becoming jammed betweenthe prong portion 79 and central plate portion 64.

A coil spring 83 is mounted. in tension between the lower edge of thecentral plate portion 64 and an arm 85 secured to the hub 61 to urge thehead portion 69a about the pin 67 as a pivot.

A stop screw 30, for limiting the pivotal movement of the head portion6% under the tension of the spring 83, is screwed into a post 81 securedto extend at right angles from a side of the arms 63. The stop screw 89is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 82 to engage the centralplate portion 64 and to arrest pivotal movement of the head portion 601:in a position substantially at right angles to the arms 63.

The operating mechanism 87 (Figs. 1 to 4 and 8 to 10, inclusive) for theloop straightening and aligning assemblies 60 comprises a cam actuatedseries of links and levers. A shaft actuating lever arm 88 is secured toan end of the shaft 57 upon which the loop straightening and aligningassemblies 69 are mounted. The free end of the arm 88 is connected by alink 89 to the free end of a lever arm 90 pivoted on a stud 91 on one ofthe presser plate support arms 42. The lever arm 90 has a recess 92 inits pivotally mounted end, and a lever 93 is fitted into this recess soas to be free for pivotal movement through an angle of approximatelyrelative to the recessed arm 9th, but to engage the offset shoulder 94between the recess 92 and the remainder of the arm 90 at each end ofsuch swinging movement. Any further movement of the lever 93 inengagement with the offset shoulder 94 causes the recessed arm 90 tomove therewith in the nature of a bell crank lever.

A light coil spring 95 is mounted in tension between the relativelypivoted lever 93 and a bracket 97 welded to the recessed lever arm 90.The spring 95 urges the arm 93 into arrested position against one end ofthe shoulder 94. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the relativelypivoted spring biased lever 93 is free to swing clockwise against thetension of the light coil spring 95 through an angle of approximately180, for example, without applying any substantial torque to therecessed lever arm 90. When rotated in a counterclockwise direction, i.e., as from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9, thelever 93, by its abutting engagement with the shoulder 94 of the leverarm 90, will swing the recessed lever arm 99 therewith, and, through thelink 89 and lever arm 83, will swing the loop straightening assemblies6G clockwise, moving the head portion 60a rearwardly and upwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 9.

For controlling the operation of the relatively pivoted lever 93, andthereby of the loop straightening assemblies 69, a cam follower roller98 is mounted rotatably on the free end of the spring biased lever 93.The roller 98 is positioned to engage a forwardly sloping cam surface 99at the lower end of the forward edge of its associated notched cam plate43 at a stage in the upward operative stroke of the hoist 22 after thefront presser assembly 411 has been swung downwardly against the frontwall of the box 33. This forces the roller 98 forwardly, as will beapparent from Fig. 9, and, through the operating mechanism describedpreviously herein, will swing the loop straightening assemblies 60clockwise to their upswung position as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 9 and 11.The loop straightening assemblies 60 are retained in their up-swungposition until the roller 98 reaches the upper end of a straightvertical forward edge portion 99a at which stage of operation (Fig. 9)the notched, forwardly projectin end portions of the side bars 26 of thelid closing frame 24 are about to engage the bent tab portions 76 (Fig.12) of the end loop straightening and aligning assemblies 61).

At this point in the elevating stroke of the hoist 22, the roller 98 onthe arm 93 rides off the edge portion 99a and into a rearwardly offsetportion 100 in the forward edge of the notched cam plate 48. This freesthe spring biased, relatively pivoted lever 93 and the recessed leverarm 91} for clockwise relative movement, and by means of the link 89 andlever arm 88, frees the shaft 57 for counterclockwise rotative movement.The loop straightening and aligning devices 60 thereupon drop by gravityto their depending position shown in Fig. 10, assisted by the impact ofthe notched lid frame side mem bers 26 on the tabs 76 of the outermostassemblies 60.

The lid closing frame 24, which is mounted to ride freely between theslotted plates 25 has the side bars 26 thereof (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9)connected at their rear ends to a bar (not shown), and at their frontends to a plate 162 welded to extend therebetween. A forwardly slopingcam plate 193 for swinging a plurality of loop interlocking rollerhammers 104 into loop engaging position, as the hoist 22 continues itsupward movement after the closing of a box lid, is mounted to extendlengthwise over the front frame plate 102. The forward edge of the camplate 1133 is positioned to align with the front of a box uponcompletion of the lid closing operation. The rear edge 195 of thesloping cam plate 103 is supported by a buttress strip 198 mountedbetween the cam plate 193 and the front plate 102 of the lid closingframe 24.

The rear end of the lid closing frame 24 has a pair of studs 119, onlyone of which is shown, mounted on opposite sides thereof to extendthrough slotted openings 111 in the slotted plates 25 and to projectlaterally beyond the plates 25. A guide roller 112 is mounted rotatablyon each stud 110 to ride in the slot 111 through 6 which the studprojects. A stop lug 113 is mounted on the inner side of each slottedplate 25 to extend over the lid closing frame 24 and is positioned at aheight on the slotted plates to arrest the upward travel of the rearportion of the cover closing frame 24 at the stage of hoist operation atwhich the box lid 30d is fully closed.

The forward portion of the lid closing frame 24 is connected byadjustable links 114 (Figs. 1 to 4) to the slidable, spring biased, lidcloser support members 23. The lower end of each link 114 is pivoted ona stud 115 on each side member 26 of the lid closing frame 24, while theupper ends of the links 114 are pivoted on studs 116 on the slidablespring biased members 23.

One of the loop bending rollers hammers 104 is provided in verticalfore-and-aft alignment with each pair of interengaging wire loops 30band 300 on a box to be lidded. Each roller hammer 104 comprises a pairof side bars 117 and 118 pivoted at their upper ends on a shaft 119mounted in openings 120 provided therefor in a pair of bars 121 clampedby bolts 122 to the rigid top frame 21. A web 123 (Fig. 2) is securedbetween the side bars 117 and 118 of each hammer 1114, to extendtransversely thereacross. A cam contacting roller 124 is journaled on apin 125 mounted transversely of the lower ends of the hammer side bars117 and 118 to engage the sloping cam plate 103 on the lid closing frame24 during an operative stroke of the hoist 22.

For arresting the forward swinging movement of the hammers 194 as theyroll off the forward edge of the cam plate 103, and to force the rollers124 into pressing, rolling engagement with the box front during a finalportion of each elevation of the hoist 22, a hammer stop support plate127 (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted on the hammer support shaft 119 and on asecond shaft 128 spaced forwardly therefrom. The second shaft 128 ismounted in holes provided therefor in the same bars 121 which supportthe hammer pivot shaft 119.

For resiliently urging the roller hammers 104 to swing rearwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 1, a guide lug 130 is welded to the side of eachstop support plate 127 forwardly of each hammer 194. A pin 131 ispivotally connected to each hammer 104 and is slidably inserted in ahole provided therefor in its associated guide lug 130. A coil spring132 surrounds the pin 131 and is held in compression between the lug 130and the hammer 194, normally to urge the hammer 1114 to its rearwardlyswung position shown in Fig. 1. A stop nut 133 is provided on thethreaded forward end of the pin 131 to limit rearward swinging movementof the hammer to a position where the roller 124 on the lower end of theham mer 194 will contact the sloping cam plate 103 on the lid closingframe 24 when the latter is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4during a lidding operation.

For limiting the forward swinging movement of the hammers during alidding operation of the machine, a stop screw 134 is screwed toadjusted position into a threaded hole provided therefor in a second andlower lug 135 secured to extend from each stop support plate 127 belowthe lug 130 thereon. A lock nut 137 locks each stop screw 134 inadjusted position. The stop screws 134 are positioned to engage thetransversely extending strip portions 123 of their associated hammers194 to limit the forward swinging movement of the latter by the camplate 103 on the lid closing frame 24. Thus, the hammer rollers 124 willroll, upon engagement of the hammers 104 with the stop screws 134, downthe front of the box to bend into interlocking engagement and roll overeach pair of interengaged wire loops 30b and 3% of the box encirclingwires 30.

Mechanism is provided for pressing against the rear side of the box 31)to oppose the rearward thrust of the presser assembly 40 and of thehammer rollers 124 to assist generally in maintaining the overfilled boxin rectangular form. This mechanism is constructed so that it also tucksinto proper position any rearwardly displaced lids on the boxes 30 beinglidded.

This lid tucking and rear presser mechanism 149 (Figs.

1 to 4 and 5 to 7, inclusive) comprises an angle bar 141 having arounded nose portion 142 secured to a shaft 143 extending transverselybetween a pair of slidably mounted tucker support plates 144. The tuckersupport plates Mal are mounted for vertical sliding movement, one oneach of the vertically slotted plates 25. Each of the tucker supportplates 14 iis slotted at 145 to receive the projecting end of the stud114} on the lid presser frame for limited relative vertical movementtherein.

Each slidably mounted tucker support plate 144 is guided for verticalmovement by the rollers 112 on the lid closer frame studs 110 riding inthe slotted opening 111 in the slotted plates 25. A second roller 14?,mounted on a stud 14$, mounted on the upper end of each slidably mountedplate 144 to extend inwardly therefrom, also rides in the slottedopening 111 of its adjacent plate to retain the sliding plate 144against pivotal displacement about the associated studs 110.

A triangular tucker actuating member 150 is pivoted at one cornerthereof on the upper roller support stud 14S exteriorly of each tuckersupport plate 144, and a second corner of the triangular member 154) isconnected by a link 151 to an arm 152 secured to the shaft 143 of thetuck r member 141. A cam follower roller 155 is mounted for freerotation on a stud 154 which projects inwardly from the third corner ofthe triangular tucker actuating member 150.

The roller 153 is positioned to engage the lower end of a cam bar 155secured to the outer face of the slotted plate 25 alongside the slottedopening 111 therein when the slidably mounted plates 144 are movedupwardly from their lowermost position shown in Fig. l by an elevatingstroke of the hoist 22. The upward movement of the slidabiy mountedplates 144, from their position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 3,causes the roller 153 to engage the lower end of the cam bar 155, andthus to swing the triangular plate 150 upon which the roller 153 ismounted clockwise about its mounting stud 148.

This movement of the triangular plate 156, by means of the link 151 andarm 152, swings the angle bar 141 in a counterclockwise direction fromits outwardly swung position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, to the positionshown in Figs. 4 and 7. This action of the angle bar 141 tucks anyrearwardiy displaced lids forwardly into proper position for closing asshown diagrammatically in the sequence of operative positionsillustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive. During the remainder of theupward stroke of the hoist 22, the cam follower roller 153 ridesupwardly along the rear edge of the cam bar 155 as shown in Fig. 4, andthus retains the angle member 141 in its forwardly swung position tosupport the upper portion of the rear side of the box against bulgingand rearward displacement.

The angle member 141 is returned to its normal posi tion shown in Fig. lat the end of each downward or return stroke of hoist 22. This returnswing of the angle member Edi is caused by a second cam plate 157 havinga forwardly sloping cam face 158 thereon. The second can. plate 157 ispositioned to be engaged by the roller 153 and to deflect it forwardlyupon its return to its lowermost position shown in Fig. 1. This forwarddeflection of the roller 153 swings the triangular plate 15%. and, bymeans of the link 151, the lever arm 152 and angle member 1% back totheir normal positions of l.

The slidably mounted tucker support plates 144 are actuated verticallyin timed relation with the rest of the machine by means of raising orlowering of the hoist 22 through stops 1S? and 169 (Figs. 1 to 4)secured in adjusted positions on a pair of thrust rods 161, 161.

The upper end of each thrust rod 161 is secured to one of the slidablymounted tucker support plates 144. The stops 159 and 16% are positionedto be engaged by the hoist top frame 22 at predetermined stages in theactuation of hoist 22. The upper stops 159 for raising the tuckersupport plates 144, and thereby the rear end of the lid closing frame24, are positioned on their respective thrust rods 161, 161 at a heightwhich will move the rear end of the lid closing frame 2-4 upwardlyagainst the stop lugs 113 on the inner sides of the slotted plates 25 atin the elevation of the hoist 22 where the under side of the lid closingframe 24 is parallel to the anvils 38, 3 and at box height therefrom.The lower stops 1665 are positioned on their respective rods at a heightwhich will restore the parts to their lowered positions shown in Fig. iwhen the hoist 22 returns to its fully lower-ed position.

The slotted holes 14-5 in the slidably mounted plates 144- in which thestuds on the rear end of the lid closing frame 24 are mounted, permitlimited relative vertical movement between the slidably mounted tuckersupport plates 144 and the studs lit on the rear of the lid closingframe. This freedom for limited relative movement allows the rear tuckermember 141 to be swung forwardly against the box 30 by the initialupward movement of the slidably mounted plates 144. This movementpreferably occurs before the marginal portions at the lower ends of theslotted holes 111 engage the studs 110 to initiate their upward movementand that of the rear end of the lid closing frame 24 upon which thesestuds are mounted.

The operation of the lidding machine itself is similar to that describedin co-pending application, Serial No. 246,134, referred to previouslyherein, and will not, therefore, be repeated in detail. Briefly,however, upon elevation of the hoist 22, with a box 36 centered on theanvils 38, the end presser bars 28 are forced inwardly by the cam bars29 to support the ends of the box against bulging. The lid 30d of thebox 30 then is engaged by the lid closing frame 24 and is swung toclosed position as shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter, continued elevation ofthe hoist forces the sloping cam plate 103 against the rollers 124 onthe roller hammer 164, camming them forwardly until they are arrested bythe stop screws 134. The roller 124 on the rollers hammers 14% then rollrelatively downwardly along the front of the box, bending theinterengaged loops 30b and Sec into interlocked position to complete thelidding operation. The hoist 22 then is lowered, restoring the parts tothe positions shown in Fig. 1.

During the elevation of the hoist 22, the arms 42 are swung downwardlyby the action of the hook-shaped cams 48 on the cam follower rollers 44to bring the front presser assembly 4% into pressing contact with thefront of the box 30, and with the fingers 52 thereon located betweenadjacent loops 301) on the front side of the box.

As the roller 98 on the pivotally mounted arm 93 of the loopstraightening mechanism rolls upwardly along the sloping lower frontedge portion 99 of the hook-shaped cam 48 (Fig. 8), the loopstraightening assemblies 60 are swung from their dependent position asshown in Fig. 1.0, to their upswung, loop straightening position shownin Fig. 3. As the loop straightening assemblies 6% thus are swungupwardly and rearwar-dly in a clockwise direction, the pointed upperends of the prongs 77 enter the loops 3% on the front of the box anddraw them upwardly, tautening the wires thereof and bringing them to anupstanding position best suited to enter the lid loop 390 when the lidSM is swung to its closed position shown in Figs. 4, 10 and 11. Also, asthe lid approaches its closed position, in the event that the forwardlyextending lid loop SM is displaced laterally from a proper, forwardlyextending position, the diverging edges 74 of the side Wings 70 and 71will tend to center the lid loop therebetween. As the lid is swung tothe almost closed position shown in Fig. 9,

the roller 98 runs ofi? the upper end of the vertical front edge 99a ofthe hook-shaped cam 48, freeing the lid straightening assembly 60 forcounterclockwise rotative movement from its position of Fig. 9 to thatof Fig. 10. At this stage in the elevation of the hoist 22, the notched,forward ends of side members 26 of the lid closing frame 24 strike thetabs 76 on the end wings 71 (Figs. 9, l1 and 12) of the lopstraightening assemblies 60 and return them to their dependent positionshown in Figs. 4 and 10. The biased articulated arrangement of the head60 as con trolled by the coil spring 83 and stop screw 80 allows thehead 60 to pivot relatively to the arms 63 to allow the wings 70 and 71and the prong 77 to swing clear of the box 30 when the loopstraightening assemblies 60 are swung into and out of engagement withthe box 30.

The operation of the lid tucker 140 is quite obvious from thediagrammatic illustrations of Figs. 5 to 7, inclusi've. When the hoist22 is in its lowermost position illustrated in Fig. 1, the lowermostguide roller 112 on each tucker support plate 144 is cradled in thelower end of its guide slot 111 and the cam actuated roller 153 is inits forwardly swung position as shown in Fig. 5. The tucker actuatingrods 161, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 have been drawn to theirlowermost position by the engagement of the stop members 160 on thetucker actuating rods 161, by the hoist top frame 22a. This action ofthe tucker actuating rods 161, 161 draws the tucker support plates 144downwardly relatively to the studs 110 on the rear end of the lidclosing frame 24 as shown in Fig. 5. As the hoist moves upwardly on anoperative stroke of the machine, when the hoist top frame 22a engagesthe upper stop members 159 on the tucker actuating rods 161, the tuckersupport plates are elevated thereby, causing the cam engaging roller 153on the triangular plate 150, which is initially restrained againstupward movement by the cam bar 155, to swing the triangular actuatingmember 159 clockwise from its position in Fig. 5 to that in Fig. 6. Thisrotative movement of the triangular tucker actuating member 150, bymeans of the link 151 and lever arm 152, swings the tucker angle member141 forwardly and upwardly, swinging the rounded nose portion 142thereof upwardly past the upper rear edge of the box. If the lid of thebox being lidded should be displaced rearwardly when it is placed in themachine, for example, as shown in Fig. 5, this upward movement of therounded nose portion 142 would tuck the lid forwardly into place asshown in the diagrammatic sequence of Figs. 5 to 7. Thereafter, the fiatface 141a of the angle member 141 will remain in pressing relationagainst the upper rear side of the box 30 during the remainder of theupward lidding stroke of the hoist 22. The angle member 141 is restoredto its normal, downwardly and rearwardly swung position as shown in Fig.5 upon return of the hoist to its lowered position. This return swing ofthe angle member 141 to its normal position is accomplished by theengagement of the roller 153 with the sloping upper face 158 of the camblock 157 as the rollers 112 on the studs 110 reach the lower ends ofthe slotted openings 111 in the side plates, 25, 25.

During the swinging of the tucker angle member 141 into box engagingposition, relative movement between the lid closing frame 24 and thetucker support plates 144 is permitted by the slotted holes 145 in thetucker support plates. The Studs 110 on the lid closing frame 24 reachthe bottoms of these slotted openings at the same time that the tuckerangle member 141 has been swung into pressing relation with the rear ofthe box 30, after which the rear end of the lid closing frame is carriedupwardly by the studs 110 riding on the tucker support plates at thebottoms of the slotted openings 145 therein. The time at which movementof the studs 110 occurs in their slotted openings 145 on the returnstroke of the hoist 22 is immaterial. It is obvious, however, that thestuds 110 will be returned to their lowermost position in these slottedopenings by the time the lower stop members 160 on the 10 tuckeractuating rods 161 (Figs. 1 to 4) have returned to their lowermostposition as shown in Fig. 1, so as to swing the tucker angle member 141downwardly and rearwardly to its position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood, however, that various changesand modifications may be made in the details thereof Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a machine for lidding wire bound boxes of the type having a hingedlid, and having box supported fasteners and lid supported fastenersadapted to interengage upon closing the box lid; a box support, lidengaging means opposite said support, means for moving said support andsaid lid engaging means toward each other to close the lid of a boxmounted on said support, a fastener straightener pivotally mounted toswing adjacent a box supported fastener, a prong carried by saidstraightener and positioned to engage a box supported fastener upon apredetermined movement of said straightener, means for operating saidstraightener at a predetermined stage of the lid closing movement of thesupport and the lid engaging means, and means for positively moving thestraightener to withdraw the prong from fastener engaging position priorto a final closing of the lid.

2. In a machine for lidding wire bound boxes of the type having a hingedlid, and having box supported loops and lid supported loops adapted tointerengage upon closing the box lid; a box support, lid engaging meansopposite said support, and spaced therefrom to receive an open liddedbox therebetween, means for moving said support and said lid engagingmeans toward each other to close the lid of a box mounted on saidsupport, box front presser means mounted to move into pressing relationwith a box on said support, a loop straightener pivotally mounted onsaid presser means to swing adjacent a box supported loop, a prongcarried by said loop straightener and positioned to enter and engage abox supported loop upon a predetermined swinging movement of said loopstraightener, means for operating said loop straightener in timedrelation with the movement of the support and the lid engaging means todraw the loop into straightened position, and means for positivelymoving the loop straightener to withdraw the prong from loop engagingposition prior to a final closing of the lid.

3. In a machine for lidding wire bound boxes of the type having a hingedlid, and having box supported fastener elements and lid supportedfastener elements adapted to interengage upon closing the box lid; a boxsupport, lid engaging means opposite said support, and spaced therefromto receive an open lidded box therebetween, means for moving saidsupport and said lid engaging means toward each other to close the lidof a box mounted on said support, box front presser means mounted tohave pressing relation with a box on said support during such movementof the support and lid engaging means, a fastener straightener pivotallymounted on said presser means, a prong carried by said straightener andpositioned to engage a box supported fastener upon a predeterminedswinging movement of said straightener, means for operating saidstraightener in timed relation with relative movement of the support andthe lid engaging means to draw the engaged fastener into straightenedcondition, said straightener being positioned for retracting movement bythe lid engaging means during the final portion of relative lid closingmovement between the box support and the lid engaging means to withdrawthe prong from fastener engaging position.

4. In a machine for lidding wire bound boxes of the type having a hingedlid, and having box supported fastening elements and lid supportedfastening elements adapted to interengage upon closing the box lid; 21box support, lid engaging means opposite said support, and spacedtherefrom to receive an open lidded box therebetween, means for movingsaid support and said lid engaging means toward each other to close thelid of a box mounted on said support, box front presser means mounted tomove into pressing relation with a box on said support, a fastenerstraightener pivotally mounted on said presser means to swing adjacent abox supported fastener, said straightener comprising a lever arm and ahead portion pivotally mounted thereon, stop means mounted to limitpivotal movement of the head portion on the arm, means mounted to biasthe pivotally mounted head portion toward stop engaging position, meanson said pivotally mounted head portion positioned to engage a boxsupported fastening element upon a predetermined swinging movement ofsaid lever arm, and means for operating said straightener in timedrelation with relative movement of the support and the lid engagingmeans to draw the engaged fastener into straightened condition prior toa final closing of the lid.

5. In a lidding mechanism for hinged lid wire bound boxes of the typehaving a plurality of lid supported loops, and a plurality of bendablebox supported fastening elements adapted to enter said loops uponclosing the box lid, a box support, a lid closing member mountedopposite said support for pivotal and limited sliding movement relativethereto, said lid closing member being spaced from said box support toreceive a box with open lid therebetween; a front presscr member movableinto pressing engagement with a side of a box on said support, means foradvancing the lid closing member and front presser member toward the boxto close the open lid of a box on said support, a fastener aligningmember mounted for movement on said front presser member on an upperportion thereof, timed actuating means mounted to move said aligningmember into straightening engagement with a fastening element of a boxbeing lidded, and means carried by said lid closing member andpositioned to Withdraw the aligning member from fastener engagingposition in advance of final closing of the lid.

6. In a machine for lidding Wire bound boxes of the type having a lidhingedly connected thereto, a box support, lid engaging means oppositesaid support, means for moving said support and said lid engaging meanstoward each other to close the lid of a box mounted on said support, alid tucker mounted adjacent the hinged connection of the lid to the boxfor forward and upward movement, and means for operating said lid tuckerat an early stage of the lid closing movement of said support and saidlid engaging means to urge the lid forwardly on the box to place undertension the hinged connections of the lid to the box, thereby properlyto osition rearwardly displaced box lids.

'7. In a machine for lidding boxes of the type having a lid hingedlyconnected to a box by encircling wires, a box support, lid engagingmeans opposite said support, means for moving said support and said lidengaging means toward each other to close the lid of a box mounted onsaid support, a lid tucker mounted to be disposed rearwardly of thehinged connection of the lid to a box mounted on said support, saidtucker having a nose portion adapted to move forward and upward pastsaid hinged connection on a predetermined movement of the tucker, andmeans mounted to actuate said tucker at a predetermined stage of the lidclosing movement of the support and the lid engaging means to move thetucker nose forward and upward past the hinged connection in the direction of the lid, thereby to move forwardly into position for seating anyre-arwardly displaced box lid.

8. A machine for lidding a produce box having an initially upstandinglid hinged at the rear top edge of the box and carrying at its free edgea plurality of spaced flexible projections to be interlocked withflexible projec tions carried by the upper edge of the front wall of thebox, said machine comprising a support for the box with 12 its lid inopen position, lid engaging means opposite said support, means formoving said support and said lid engaging means toward each other toswing the hinged lid downwardly toward closed position, a lid tuckermounted rearwardly of the hinged connection of the lid to the box andarranged to be moved forwardly toward the box and into contact with therear edge of the lid, a plurality of support members pivotally mountedadjacent the front wall of the box and adapted to be swung upwardlytoward the box in close proximity thereto, means on said support membersarranged to engage and straighten the flexible projections on the frontwall of the box as the support members are swung upwardly, stop meansfor arresting the upward swinging movement of said support members, saidsupport members having abutment surfaces disposed in said arrestedposition in substantially vertical position above the upper edge of thefront wall of the box, and means for actuating said tucker as said lidswings toward closed position to contact the rear edge of the lid andurge the lid forwardly to a position wherein the free edge of the lid isdisposed to pass close to said vertical abutment surfaces as itapproaches closed position, said abutment surfaces being effective toprevent overflowing of the produce as the lid presses the produce intothe box.

9. In a machine for lidding a produce box having an initially upstandinglid hinged to the rear top edge of the box, means for moving the lid toclosed position on the box, a support member, means for pivotallymounting the support member for rotation about an axis parallel to andadjacent the front wall of the box at substantially the same height asthe upper edge thereof and spaced laterally therefrom, means for movingsaid support about said axis from a depending position toward said frontwall and upwardly in close proximity thereto, and means defining a fiatabutment surface on said support member movable into a substantiallyvertical position extending upwardly above the upper edge of said frontwall to form a retainer wall for produce immediately adjacent the pathof travel of the lid during final closing movements thereof.

10. In a machine for lidding a produce box having an initiallyupstanding lid hinged to the rear top edge of the box and carrying atits free edge a plurality of spaced flexible folded projections alignedwith flexible folded projections carried by the upper edge of the frontwall of the box and arranged to be interlocked therewith, means forpivoting said lid into closed position on said box, a straightenerdevice adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the front wall of thebox for swinging movement upwardly toward the upper edge of the frontwall, means for pivoting said straightener, said straightener beingpositioned to engage one of the folded projections on the front Wallduring said upward swinging movement to draw the fold into straightenedposition, means for arresting said upward pivoting movement after saidstraightening operation with a portion of said straightener projectingabove the upper edge of said front wall, and guide means on saidprojecting portion adapted to intercept a folded projection on said lidas said lid approaches closed position, said guide means being arrangedto direct said lid fold into desired position relative to said frontwall fold when said lid is closed.

11. In a machine for lidding a produce box having an initiallyupstanding lid hinged to the rear top edge of the box and a fasteningloop extending from the front wall of the box adjacent the upper edgethereof, means for moving the lid to closed position on the box, a loopstraightener assembly, means for pivotally mounting the loopstraightener assembly adjacent the front wall of the box near the upperedge thereof in position to be swung upward and toward said front wallin close proximity thereto, a loop-straightening prong carried by saidloop straightener assembly and extending therefrom in position to enterthe loop as the prong is swung upward, and

13 means defining a flat abutment surface on said loop straightenerassembly movable into a substantially vertical position extending upwardabove the upper edge of said front wall to form a retainer Wall forproduce immediately adjacent the path of travel of the lid during finalclosing movement thereof.

12. In wire bound box lidding apparatus having a support for a boxhaving a wire loop adjacent the upper edge of a wall thereof,loop-straightening mechanism comprising a prong mounted for rotarymotion about an axis spaced forward from the upper edge of a wall of abox disposed on the support, means for turning said prong about the axiswith the leading end of the prong moving upward in an arcuate pathsubstantially tangent to the front wall to enter a loop carried by thewall, and means defining a shoulder on the prong engageable with thebight portion of the loop to straighten the loop and dispose the same inpredetermined position.

13. Loop straightening mechanism for wire bound box lidding apparatushaving means for supporting in a predetermined position a box having aWire loop adjacent an upper edge of a wall thereof, said mechanismcomprising a support member, a loop straightener assembly mounted onsaid support member for rotary motion about a predetermined axis, meansmounting said support member for movement from an upper, idle positionto a lower, operating position wherein said axis is spaced forward fromthe upper edge of the wall of a box disposed on the support, meansoperable while said support member is in said lower position for turningthe straightener assembly about said axis in a path substantiallytangent to the box wall, and means on said straightener assemblyengageable with a loop carried by the wall to straighten the loop.

14. Loop straightening mechanism for wire bound box lidding apparatushaving means for supporting in a predetermined position a box having awire loop adjacent an upper edge of a wall thereof, said mechanismcomprising a support member, a loop straightener assembly mounted onsaid support member for rotary motion about a predetermined axis, meansmounting said support member for movement from an upper, idle positionto a lower, operating position wherein said axis is spaced forward fromthe upper edge of the wall of a box disposed on the support, meansoperable while said support member is in said lower position for turningthe straightener assembly about said axis in a path substantiallytangent to the box wall, a prong mounted on said straightener assemblyin position to enter a loop carried by the wall, and means defining ashoulder on said prong engageable with the bight portion of the loop tostraighten the loop and dispose the same in predetermined position.

15. Loop straightening mechanism for wire bound box lidding apparatushaving an elevator for raising in a predetermined path a box having awire loop on a wall thereof, said mechanism comprising a support member,a loop straightener assembly mounted on the support member for rotarymotion about a predetermined axis, means mounting said support memberfor movement from an idle position to an operating position adjacent thepath of a box being raised by the elevator, means operable when the axisis substantially in horizontal alignment with a loop on a wall of thebox for turning said straightener assembly about said axis in a pathsubstantially tangent to the box wall, and means on the straightenerassembly engageable with the loop to straighten the same.

16. Loop-straightening mechanism for wire bound box lidding apparatushaving an elevator for raising in a predetermined path a box having awire loop on a wall thereof, said mechanism comprising a support member,a loop straightener assembly mounted on the support member for rotarymotion about a predetermined axis, means mounting said support memberfor movement from an idle position to an operating position adjacent thepath of a box being raised by the elevator, means operable when the axisis substantially in horizontal alignment with a loop on a wall of thebox for turning said straightener assembly about said axis in a pathsubstantially tangent to the box wall, a prong on the straightenerassembly in position to enter the loop as the straightener assembly isturned, and means on the prong engageable with the *ight portion of theloop to straighten the loop and dispose the same in predeterminedposition.

17. Loop-straightening mechanism for wire bound box lidding apparatushaving an elevator for raising a box having a wire loop on a wallthereof, said mechanism comprising a support member, a loop straightenerassembly mounted for pivotal movement on the support member, meansmovable with the elevator pivotally mounting the support member forrotary motion from an idle to an operating position to dispose saidstraightener assembly adjacent the path of a box being raised by theelevator, means operable during an early stage of upward movement of theelevator for rotating the support member to said operating position,said turning means becoming inoperative upon arrival of the supportmember in said operating position and the support member being movablein translatory motion with the elevator during a later stage of upwardmovement thereof, means for pivoting said straightener assembly on thesupport member toward the box and upward with respect to the same, astationary cam mounted adjacent the path of the elevator in position toengage and actuate said pivoting means during said translatory motion ofthe support member, and means on said straightener assembly engageablewith the wire loop to straighten the same upon upward swinging of thestraightener assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS963,521 Cox July 5, 1910 965,087 Covey July 19, 1910 1,985,879 BoehnkeJan. 1, 1935 2,141,549 Paxton Dec. 27, 1938 2,517,710 Platt et al. Aug.8, 1950 2,565,987 Platt et al. Aug. 28, 1951

